Fourth of July celebration Julie and Mark
Spelman have once again generously offered to organize our July Fourth parade
and picnic. The Parade, led by the
DVFD fire truck driven by resident Gina Crouchet, will begin at 10:00 AM at
the water well and will travel along Westview Trail, ending at the pavilion.
Residents of all ages are encouraged to join the parade on foot, on decorated
bicycles, wagons, scooters, tricycles and strollers. Folks not participating
in the parade can enjoy the show as spectators. After the parade arrives at
the recreation area, Mark will start grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs,
provided for residents by donations for the event. Residents are encouraged
to bring drinks, side dishes and desserts. Prizes will be awarded to kids for
creative decorations. Each year the parade gets better, so let’s show
our civic spirit and enjoy an old-fashioned family entertainment. • Editor
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A young male “black” deer. A hiding
female is nearly invisible in the brush at right in the photo. (J. Marie
Bassett)
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Neighborhood History: The Christal Ranch
Regular contributor J. Marie Bassett
is on sabbatical, so for the benefit of those of you who have joined us
in the last few years, we are reprising an excerpt from Marie’s article
from the January issue of 2004.
As one heads for Austin down Crystal Hills Drive, it is hard to imagine
that, one hundred years ago, such a trip involved an overnight stay. On
the way,
one might even catch a glimpse of a wolf near Oakhill.
It was a hundred years ago that Charles Christal exchanged forty acres
at the corner of 45th and Guadalupe streets in Austin for what became
known as the
Christal Ranch. Charles was born in 1875 on March second, Texas Independence
Day, so earning the middle name, Houston. He was one of twenty-two children
born to Civil War veteran, Roland “Role” Christal, who had
two wives.
Charles Christal and his wife had six sons and one daughter, Ruby. They
lived in the log cabin which can still be seen above the bridge over
Spring Creek.
Mrs. Christal’s granddaughter remembers her grandmother having a “green” thumb,
growing “real pretty flowers” round the cabin.
The young Christals attended Salem School which was located on Bear Creek
where the Friendship Baptist Church stands. Because of the shortage of
teachers, their father taught there, as well as running his ranch.
The Christals raised Hereford cattle on the higher thin-soiled ground.
On the more fertile land along Spring Creek, oats, corn, and hay were
planted. The
family’s immediate needs were supplied by a vegetable garden, watered
by a well. When company came, the menfolk would go up on the hill and
shoot some of the abundant wild game for supper.
To read more about the Christal family,
please see the conclusion of this article on the Local
History page of
our GWW website. • © 2004 J. Marie Bassett
Music from the Wizard’s guests Last
month some of our residents were disturbed by loud music which seemed to
be coming from the Wizard Academy.
Resident Jay Kolar went over to investigate and asked the Academy their
policy regarding music. He was told that they have had a policy of “no
amplified music outside” for nine months, and that the loud music came
from the last group to have made their reservations before the policy was
established.
They had signed contracts well in advance of the Wizard Academy’s
policy change. Our community will be pleased to know we should not be
hearing such
loud music from the groups using the Academy’s facilities in the
future. • Editor
Cell phone survey Wondering what cell phone carriers offer the
best coverage in our area? One of our residents emailed a request that
we conduct an
informal, anonymous survey of cell phone users in GWW, and publish the
results for
the elucidation of us all. He writes, “Our existing cell phone
contract is up for renewal. Before signing another long-term contract
with our existing
service provider, we would like to learn from the experiences of our
neighbors.” Seems
like a useful idea. Emailed responses may be sent
to the editor.
1. Which provider do you use for cell phone service in Goldenwood West?
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2. From which street in Goldenwood West do you place and receive cell
calls?
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3. How do you rate your cell phone service quality at your location ?
(good – reliable, few dropped calls, and good audio quality, poor – much
room for improvement)
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4. Do you have any other comments?
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An anonymous tabulation of results will be included in a subsequent
edition. • Editor
Turffalo Resident and Wildflower Center docent Marie Bassett
mentions this as a “new” grass variety that people in the
area might consider using in their yards. It is available at “The
Natural Gardener” and
it can be seen growing at the WFC in one of the “Homeowner
Gardens.” To
learn more about this species, go to www.turffalo.com. • Editor and
Marie Bassett
No parking on the grass behind the mail station? Many of our
residents are unaware that GWW has an elaborate sprinkler system
underground
behind the
mail station. While most of the watering regions are rarely turned
on, due to the
prevalent philosophy of conserving water among most folks out here,
the system does exist and is very useful during drought times, to
keep our
trees at
the entrance from complete dessication. This system is a legacy from
the developers
of our subdivision, and is very expensive to repair when it sustains
damage. In the past, drivers squeezing past the rocks blocking the
perimeter have
caused damage to some of the sprinkler heads. Resident Mark Habkirk
has generously donated some large boulders to be placed along the
drive bordering
the mail
station meadow, and will be assisting us with getting the boulders
in place to protect our sprinkler heads. Residents are reminded not
to park
in this
area. • Editor
Rattlesnake season Two residents
have recently reported sightings of rattlesnakes, so folks are cautioned
to be alert now that warm
weather
is here. A woman
at the end of Westview Trail went out to add grain to her bird feeder
and nearly
stepped on a two foot rattler curled up right under the feeder very
close to her feet. Residents closer in on Westview had a dog bitten
by a three
foot
rattlesnake in their backyard. The dog was hospitalized, but seems
to have survived the attack. Development in neighboring subdivisions
may
increase
the number of incidents we experience here in GWW as the wildlife
population adjusts
to the changes. • Editor
Parties at the pavilion Our administrator reminds residents who cook
on the grills to please go back and clean the grills after they’ve
cooled down. Folks seem to forget because the coals are still hot
when they leave.
Particularly
as the heat of summer arrives and fire hazards increase, it is important
to douse the coals. And please leave the grill ready to use for the
next BBQ chef.
Some of our newer neighbors have had questions about how to reserve
the pavilion area. The pool is always available for use by any resident.
However, residents
may reserve the pavilion for a party or other function by obtaining
a
reservation form from the mail station or by downloading the form
from the Resources for Residents
page of our website. • Editor
and Nova
Birchfield
Protect our children Several residents have noticed that sometimes
in the evening the pool gate(s) have been left open, particularly
in the
late
evening. This
is a serious danger for our younger residents, since young visitors
to the pool may get into the water before parents have arrived to
supervise them.
Everyone is strongly urged to close the
latch carefully when leaving the fenced pool area, and to talk to older children who are old enough
to visit
the pool
without adults so they, too, will be careful to close the gate carefully.
Also, an open gate is an invitation to vandalism. Please help keep
our
maintenance costs down by securing the gate. • Editor
Many thanks to a good neighbor Sincere
thanks are extended to Warren Hayward on behalf of GWW for his kind
and quiet maintenance of the
light bulbs
at the entrance and mail station. Warren also chairs the recently
established Welcoming
Committee, which has been very active this Spring. We are fortunate
to have
the Haywards in our community. • Editor
Board of Trustees News
Repainting the mail station The BOT is gathering bids for a new roof
for the mail station, and also plans to have the small structure
repainted soon after
the new roof is in place. Resident and Board member Sue Ponder
has generously offered to organize a group of volunteer painters for
this portion of
the
task. Sue’s community spirit is greatly appreciated, and will
save money for each of us, as such maintenance would otherwise be
paid for out
of our common
fund. Anyone who would like to help paint the mail station is asked
to contact the Administrator or the editor for more details. Also,
we are still searching
for a qualified contractor to paint our entrance sign.
The APC manual Several residents have attended the last BOT and
APC meetings with questions about what seem to be “new procedures” of the APC.
Most of these procedures have actually been in place for many years, but changes
in the APC membership, with different Committee members having different philosophies
about enforcement of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCRs), have
led to some confusion about how the APC should carry out its functions. To
correct this problem, the BOT approved a new APC manual which gives the Committee
clear directives about how to perform its task of upholding our CCRs. Residents
may obtain a copy of this manual on our GWW website’s Resources
for Residents page.
Questions or comments about the manual may be emailed to the editor
or submitted in writing to the BOT via the POA drop box at the
mail station.
Parking in the grass Over the years, the APC has responded to resident
complaints by restricting residents from regularly parking cars
on grass. This policy
has been formalized in the APC manual as a rule. The CCRs give
the APC the authority to make rules as it deems necessary, subject
to
BOT approval.
Many
residents consider cars routinely parked in grass an eyesore, and
have complained that this practice is detrimental to property values.
Additionally,
our near
escape from fire disaster last fall has caused some residents to
be concerned about the potential fire hazard of running car engines
above
dry grass.
The parking rule makes an exception for folks who are parking in
the grass occasionally
and briefly for reasons such as washing a car, accommodating guests
for a party, and similar reasons. The BOT seriously debated this
issue before
voting
to
approve this rule. Residents who want to make their views known
on this or any community matter are, as always, invited to submit
comments
in
writing at the POA drop box, or to attend a meeting of the BOT
and share their
views
in person with the members of their Board.
Since the first Wednesday of July falls on the Fourth this year,
the next meeting of the BOT will be on Wednesday, June 27 at 7
pm at the
pavilion.
News from the APC
The next meeting of the APC will be on Tuesday 12 June at 7 pm
at the pavilion. Residents with questions or comments for the
APC are
always
welcome to
attend the meetings. POA members and visitors may speak during
the public forum
portion of the meeting.
News from the GWW Water Board
The annual membership meeting of our Water Board was held on
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 7:30 pm, at the POA Pavilion. The
meeting included
the largest
attendance
of members in ten years. President David Crouchet says the
Board appreciates when members attend meetings and offer input to their
directors.
A nomination for one of the two open board positions was made
at the meeting. Additional nominations will be accepted until
June
21. Residents
wishing
to be nominated are encouraged to contact any board member.
The election will
take place at the June meeting.
Attendees learned more about the limits being placed on our
water pumping permit from the Trinity Groundwater Conservation
District,
and offered
many good questions
and ideas, one of which was the suggestion that members write
letters about this issue to our state representatives. No decision
was
made concerning a surcharge for legal expenses though the majority
appeared
to favor
such
a surcharge.
The decision about adding the surcharge will be on the agenda
for the June meeting, tentatively set for Thursday,
June 21 at 7:30
pm at the
pavilion.
Official notice will posted on the mail station bulletin board.
For more information about the organization issuing our water
usage permits,
go
to haysgroundwater.org.
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| (Marcia Tolly) |
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Notice! The
back gate of the pool area has been found ajar several times in the last
months. For the safety of our children,
please close both
doors firmly
when leaving the pool area. • Editor
Helpful Information
For useful reference information, such as a listing of area churches and telephone
numbers for important local contacts, please go to our neighborhood web site
at www.goldenwoodwestpoa.org or contact
the webmaster.
This newsletter published for:
Goldenwood West
Property Owners’ Association
16200 Westview Trail
Austin, TX 78737-9068
(512) 858-9528 office
Administrator@GoldenwoodWestPOA.org
www.GoldenwoodWestPOA.org
Please direct comments,
articles, email subscriptions
and inquiries regarding
advertisements to the above address.
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